Twelve Newport shops each selling thousands of pounds worth of illegal tobacco have been closed since the start of the year following targeted investigations led by Newport City Council.
The shops, listed below, have each been closed under three-month ASB closure orders issued by Gwent Magistrates’ Court:
| Premises | Address | Closure Order Ends |
| Newport Mini Market | 153 Chepstow Road, Newport | 19 April 2022 |
| Caerleon Mini Market | 153 Caerleon Road, Newport | 19 April 2022 |
| Pill Mini Market | 46 Commercial Street, Newport | 26 April 2022 |
| Cromwell Store | 43 Cromwell Road, Newport | 9 May 2022 |
| NP Mini Market | 7B Westgate Buildings, Newport | 11 May 2022 |
| Nazar Mini Market | 184-186 Corporation road, Newport | 11 May 2022 |
| F Mayberry | 154 Commercial Street, Newport | 23 May 2022 |
| International Supermarket | 54 Commercial Street, Newport | 2 June 2022 |
| Crystal Market | 55 Commercial Street, Newport | 2 June 2022 |
| Blue Fanta | 424 Chepstow Road, Newport | 16 June 2022 |
| Blue Fanta #1 | 10 Gloster Place, Newport | 16 June 2022 |
| Corpa Mini Market | 333 Corporation Road, Newport | 23 June 2022 |
The council’s trading standards team lead the investigations into the illegal tobacco sales. The team were supported by partners from Gwent Police, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Ash Wales, South Wales Fire and Rescue, Newport NOW, HM Customs and Excise, representatives from the tobacco industry and officers from Operation CeCe, a specialist trading standards team tackling illegal tobacco.
It is estimated that the closures will have prevented illegal tobacco sales amounting to around £375,000.
The sale of illegal tobacco undermines key tobacco control measures and funds criminal activity in local communities. A survey by Ash Wales found that the illegal tobacco market makes up 15% of all tobacco sales in Wales, with a higher prevalence in deprived communities.
